My pet is really well trained. Does he/she need to be on a leash/in a carrier when we visit the hospital?

Home » FAQs » My pet is really well trained. Does he/she need to be on a leash/in a carrier when we visit the hospital?

For the safety and protection of all clients, patients, and veterinary team members, CBS Animal Hospital requires all pets to be on a leash or in a carrier when they arrive at our hospital. They must continue to be restrained while they are in the reception area and while traveling to and from the exam rooms. Your veterinarian or veterinary technician will let you know when it’s OK to let your pet off leash or out of his or her carrier.

There is often a lot going on at our veterinary hospital. Combine that with the unfamiliar surroundings and new animals, and any pet—even one that is well trained—might become uneasy or excited. We want you and your pet to have as pleasant an experience as possible every time you visit our hospital, so we ask all our clients to respect our policy.

There are several tips and tricks to get cats use to a carrier. Please use a carrier versus carrying your cat in your arms. If you do not have a carrier, call us. We may have a loaner or even a cardboard one for sale. They are very inexpensive. Here are some tips

Taking Me on Trips

The Perfect Carrier

Despite previous unpleasant experiences, a cat can be taught that a carrier and travel don’t have to be stressful. A carrier is important for everyone’s safety and should be a cozy, secure place. The right carrier should be sturdy and open quietly from both the top and the side. The top should come off quickly and easily to allow you to access your kitty without pulling or tipping him out.

A Happy Place

Make the carrier a place that your cat likes to be in at home. Put it somewhere convenient for both you and your cat, such as near his favorite resting place. The location should be out of the way and safe from intrusion. If this spot is off the ground, it should be secure and big enough that the carrier won’t fall. Keep the door open at all times for easy access and put a soft towel or fleece inside. It may also help to keep the carrier top off for some time to encourage climbing into the new nest. You can use dangly toys (eg, wands) to encourage your cat to climb into and out of the carrier. Feeding your kitty inside the open carrier helps change associations in a good way.

Practice Makes Perfect

When your cat climbs into the carrier, immediately praise him and give him a reward (eg, treat, catnip, cat grass). Over a few days or weeks, once your cat associates the carrier with rewards, close the door to the carrier before you praise and reward. Open the door again so he can come out at will.

“Despite previous unpleasant experiences, a cat can be taught that a carrier and travel don’t have to be stressful.”

Facial pheromones (feliway.com) can be sprayed in or wiped inside the carrier to increase the sense of security. Try to apply it 15-30 minutes before your cat gets into the carrier so the alcohol in the spray evaporates.

Ready for Lift-Off

When (re)training your cat or kitten to be a fear-free traveler, it is important to break the trip down into the following little steps, providing rewards at each step to be sure that your cat is comfortable with each one before moving on to the next step on the next day. Wean him or her into the new, stress-free experience, one new step at a time:

Cover the carrier with a towel or blanket

Hold the carrier steady with a hand on either side, or stabilize it with one hand under it and the other on the handle

Place the carrier into the back seat of the car (ie, away from potential airbag harm) and secure it with a seatbelt

Close the door, get into the front seat and close your door, and start the engine

Drive to the end of the driveway and back.

Begin with short trips around the block, then increase to slightly longer drives, working up to a drive to the practice (without the cat being examined or handled) to complete the process.